Think India Foundation

What happens to the millions of gadgets we discard?

Miraj Malik deals with the after life. His days begin with a casual stroll around the dusty lanes of Seelampur - a Delhi suburb - inspecting the latest cold cargo that's been picked up from across the National Capital Region (NCR) and unloaded by hundreds of trucks the previous night. 

Malik dabbles in cadavers of computers and sundry gizmos. He runs 18 shops in Seelampur - one of India's biggest "organised" unorganised market for scrapped electronic devices - where they are dismantled, glass and plastic parts are sifted out from metals, which, in turn, are separated to be sold to metal hubs like Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh. Read more

Source : economictimes.indiatimes.com

Resources, implementation bugbears for environment management

Issues concerning the quality of air, water, soil, trees and other environmental and ecological attributes are at the top of the agenda in almost all discussions of our transforming society. However, the economic linkages that these issues deserve are not coming together owing both to India's economic position and individual commitment. As a result, we see a huge environmental and economic imbalance resulting in a slow pace of environmental improvements in the country.

If only intent and the content of policy are taken into account, India's environment should have been on a par with the rest of the developed world as legislations are comparable. Water, air and other waste are expected to be managed effectively and there are obligations to protect the ecology and the environment. However, implementation is far from satisfactory. Read more

Source : articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com

Ernakulam is hazardous waste capital of Kerala

KOCHI : Pesticides and metallurgical industries top polluters

Ernakulam district has emerged as the new hazardous waste capital of Kerala. The district is the top contributor to the amount of hazardous waste generated in the State, producing about 45,560 metric tonnes of hazardous waste annually.

Kerala generated about 71,050 metric tonnes of hazardous waste in 2009-10, according to the State inventory of hazardous waste generating industries prepared by the Kerala State Pollution Control Board. Read more

Source : thehindu.com

BRTS drives in social change

AHMEDABAD: A team of US researchers looking to study the impact of traffic on society decided to take the road less travelled. Rather than going for usual parameters such as pollution, fumes emitted or how many people travel per car, they decided to take three streets with high, moderate and low traffic.

The results showed that people having heavy traffic right outside their homes were leading a lonely life with one friend in vicinity and less space that they accessed everyday. Compared to that, people with low traffic said that they were happy with their surroundings, had three or more friends and had the entire stretch as their activity zone everyday. Read more

Source : articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Bhubaneswar on road to transportation facelift

BHUBANESWAR: The Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) is all set to put transportation sector development of the Capital on fast-track.

The urban body will undertake a major project to improve the sector in the fast-developing city. This will be one of the biggest projects of the BDA. Read more

Source : ibnlive.in.com

Improper urban planning in Northeast

Kohima : Airing concern over the improper urban planning in the north eastern states, the need to adopt a comprehensive strategy and road map for securing a holistic development and reformation of urban areas has been stressed here today at the regional workshop on “Urban Governance, Management and Municipal Finance” for the north eastern states.

Chief Secretary Lalthara told the workshop that the vulnerability of earthquake is very high in North East. Lalthara said most of towns/cities in North East are in congestion coupled with water, sanitation and drainage problem, adding that it is very difficult to rectify now as proper urban planning was not taken into account. Read more

Source : morungexpress.com

Political din may drown citizens' voice for silence zones in Pune

PUNE: Political parties have one cause in common__ their opposition to silence zones while campaigning. Amid the heat over election, the state government has decided to take up the issue with the pollution control board and to the court if necessary.

However, common citizens want to protect silence zones to save them from blaring horns, ear-splitting music, loud public announcements and noisy scenes during elections. Read more

Source : articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com

SC notice to Centre on decongestion of roads

New Delhi : The Supreme Court on Monday expressed concern over growing vehicular traffic and issued notice to the Centre on framing guidelines for decongestion of roads. 

An apex court bench headed by Justice Dalveer Bhandari gave two weeks time to the Centre for its response to a PIL alleging traffic jam across the country, particularly in metros, was leading to serious health problems. Read more

Source : hindustantimes.com

Recycle industrial waste to generate revenue: experts

BANGALORE: A waste exchange mechanism for industries needs to be established in Karnataka. The goal is to reduce the adverse environmental impact of industrial waste disposal and generate economic returns through the promotion of resource recovery from industrial waste, said experts at the 'Sustainability: From strategy to growth' seminar organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Bangalore.

"Nanjangud industrial area is exchanging 40% of its wastage voluntarily. We are coming up with an idea of creating an online platform for industrial waste exchange," said Megha Shenoy, research director, Resource Optimization Initiative. Read more

Source : articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com

In top gear against the car

NEW DELHI: Collecting cars is a connoisseur's delight for the urban elite. However, Delhiites are fast waking up to the fact that cars have run people off the streets.

The automobile could well be synonymous with modern-day Frankenstein, a monster that threatens to destroy the quality of life and not improve it. Read more

Source : articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Water purification business attracts over Rs 500 crore in PE

The inability of the state to deliver on basic services has nurtured many a business: inverters and bottled water, to name just two.

A third one is beginning to flourish: water purification and waste-water treatment. As the state increasingly relinquishes these functions to the private sector, and even discusses the idea of privatising water supply, companies in this business are seeing a likely suitor: private equity (PE). Read more

Source : articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com

SPM secondary school wins prize in state-level competition in Pune

PUNE: City-based SPM secondary school won the second prize in the state level 'Eco folks drama competition', jointly hosted by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board and Renuka theatres, recently at the Balgandharv Rangamandir. The inter-school drama competition was for students of std V and VI. SPM students enacted a drama titled 'Soyare', which depicted how the earth has lost its forests and greenery due to pollution and urbanisation.

Sharda Vidyalaya participates in sanitation programme

Sharda Vidyalaya recently received the certificate of participation from the Ecosan Services Foundation (ESS) under their SusanEx11 programme. The objective of the programme is to bring a change in the sanitation habits of society. As children are the agents of change, the programme is executed in schools. Read more

Source : articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Imphal NGO bags international green award

IMPHAL: An Imphal-based NGO, Centre for Research on Environmental Development (Cred), has bagged the prestigious Green Globe Foundation Award 2012 in New Delhi for 'Outstanding Contribution by a NGO'. Cred works at the grassroots level on critical issues like environmental degradation, generating mass awareness on pollution-related issues, mobilizing local communities in sustained high-pitched campaigns and engaging in legal activism through public interest litigation, thus forming the backbone of the green movement in India.

"We are so grateful to the foundation for having recognized our unrelenting efforts to join the global green movement to save our planet," said Cred secretary T Leikhendra Singh. Read more

Source : articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Government's response sought on national traffic management policy

New Delhi : On a plea for formulating a national policy for traffic management and air pollution checks, in keeping with the 2005 WHO guidelines, the Supreme Court Monday issued notice to the central government.

Justice Dalveer Bhandari and Justice Dipak Misra issued the notice on a public interest litigation (PIL) of Sanjay Kulshreshtra, who wanted the court to direct the government to formulate a policy so that personal four-wheeled vehicles on the roads are reduced in absolute terms by keeping a control on the sale of vehicles. Read more

Source : twocircles.net

Terminus shift gets in top gear in Kolkata

KOLKATA: Almost a decade after environmentalist Subhas Dutta filed a PIL in Calcutta high court on pollution affecting Victoria Memorial, the government is finally ready to shift the bus terminus from Esplanade. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said the government was looking for land near Strand Road, not too far from the disputed venue and Victoria Memorial.

"I have asked Union minister of state for shipping Mukul Roy to sort out the matter with Kolkata Port Trust and the Hooghly River Bridge Commissioners so that space can be carved out of land in their possession," Mamata said at Writers' Buildings on Saturday. Both the organisations are said to possess some land in the area. Read more

Source : articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Clean up and save water, says expert

BANGALORE: Wastewater treatment expert Glen T Daigger is president of the International Water Association (IWA), a global network of 10,000 water professionals who research all facets of the water cycle. Headquartered in London, IWA supports a series of strategic programmes designed to engage members on subjects critical to the water sector's wider development. TOI spoke to him on areas of concern for India, mitigation measures and the global water crisis. Excerpts:

What are the prime areas of concern in countries like India? In developed countries like Europe, the average lifespan of people went up significantly once the problem of sanitation was addressed. In developing countries too, emphasis should be on efficient sanitation system to reap economic benefits in the long run. With the global climate rapidly changing, it is getting difficult for countries to tackle long periods of drought and intense rain spells. Proper infrastructure needs to be in place too, to deal with the global water crisis. Read more

Source : articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Air quality monitoring stations set up in 7 cities

PUNE: The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, has set up air quality monitoring stations coupled with automatic weather station sensors in seven cities, including Pune, to measure different pollutant levels and weather parameters.

The stations are part of the Modelling Air Pollution and Networking (MAPAN) project which will cover 13 cities in various parts of the country. The MAPAN project will be fully functional in two to three years. Read more

Source : articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Let water, not profits, flow

As a finite, life-giving resource, access to water must remain a fundamental right. The state, as custodian under the public trust doctrine, should uphold the right of the citizen to clean, safe drinking water. It is such a strong, rights-based approach that should underpin official policy on water in India. Many areas in the country are water-stressed, and there are simmering inter-State disputes on sharing river waters. The National Water Policy 2012, now published in draft for public comments, should ultimately take a holistic view of the issue. The draft text makes some references to the importance of water for people and Nature, but is disproportionately focussed on treating water as an economic good. Such an approach predicated on realising the costs that go into the supply of water can only distort access and prices in the long run, affecting less affluent citizens. To suggest, for instance, that the state should exit the service-provider role and become a regulator is only a step away from abandoning the equity objective. Private sector water services have clearly failed in many countries, including those in the global North, and local governments have taken over again. In the current year, for-profit private water companies in England are raising tariffs, while the publicly-owned service in Scotland is not. Just over a decade ago, water wars in Bolivia reversed privatisation moves. Evidently, private partnership imposes the burden of extra costs. Read more

Source : thehindu.com

End in sight for drain pain, MCG to visit site

Gurgaon : Despite the tall claims made by the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG), Haryana Urban Development Authority (Huda) and forest department regarding the removal of muck from the DLF City Phase-4 drain, precious little has been done to clear the mess.  The drain is situated along a forest bund between the two culverts and Excelsior American School. The drain poses threat to public health as it may pollute groundwater. Besides, local residents have to put up with stench emanating from the nullah. 

MCG officials told Hindustan Times that they would issue notices to concerned departments after finding out the ownership of the land. The officials are not yet clear under whose jurisdiction the area falls. Read more

Source : hindustantimes.com

Agencies pass buck as Gurgaon drain raises a stink

Gurgaon : An open drain in the heart of the city, near Richmond Park and Garden Villa in DLF Phase-4, is posing a serious health hazard to residents. Reeking of muck and filth, the pool of stagnant water has become a garbage dumping site, including construction waste, raising serious ecological concerns. It used to be a natural drain flowing from Ghata village (in Aravalli hills) towards NH-8 along the forest bund. 

A portion of 500 metres of the drain has got landlocked between two culverts — one at Sector 27 and other at the entry gate of Excelsior American School — blocking the flow of water. Read more

Source : hindustantimes.com

2 Pune schools part of national project

PUNE: Two schools from the city are part of a nationwide initiative, wherein students from std VIII and IX of 1,300 schools are being taught how to test the fluoride contamination level of groundwater in their schools and locality.

The programme, called the Schools Water Portal, is an open, web-based platform for sharing learning resources on water among educators, students, school managements and parents. Read more

Source : articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Bogged down by traffic, bad air in Mumbai

Mumbai : Marmik Mehta, 24, has to wait every day for nearly an hour at Chembur station just to get an auto to go to Vashi Naka, which the upcoming monorail project cuts through. “The roads were already so narrow and now, with the monorail work going on, there are barely two thoroughly potholed lanes left for traffic. So no autos are ready to come here,” Mehta explained. 

For residents of the M-west ward, this is just one of the many things that is messing up their daily commute. Read more

Source : hindustantimes.com

India overtakes China, now has world's most polluted air

A new study released at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland claims that India now has the worst air pollution in the world, beating traditional crazybad air champion China, as well as Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh. 

Ranking last out of 132 countries in the ‘Air (effects on human health)’ category of the annual Environmental Performance Index, compared to China's position at 128th worst air in the world (yes!). Read more

Source : shanghaiist.com

‘Marshes can be paradise for city’s birds, marine life’

Mumbai : A three-hour walk around small walkways in the Bhandup wetlands off the Eastern Express Highway on Sunday morning left Nidhi Trivedi, 19, fascinated with the marine eco-system. “The entire mangrove stretch is so pristine,” said Trivedi, a student of Nirmala Niketan College of Social Work,Churchgate. 

As the city gears up to celebrate World Wetlands Day on Thursday, Trivedi’s concern echoes this year’s theme for wetlands: ‘Wetlands and Tourism’. Read more

Source : hindustantimes.com

'836 mn Indians burn biomass for energy'

Washington As many as 836 million Indians still rely on traditional biomass for energy, a report has said, even as the US claimed that India along with China would account for half of global energy consumption by 2035.

"The largest populations that rely on traditional biomass for energy are in the developing regions of Asia, with 836 million in India alone," said a new research published by the Worldwatch Institute for its Vital Signs Online publication. Read more

Source : expressindia.com

Pilot project for Madurai

MADURAI : To check carbon emission and reduce pollution level

Mayor V.V.Rajan Chellappa having a word with P.Vadivelan, State Tobacco Control Officer, at a workshop for law enforcement officials held in Madurai on Tuesday. Photo:G. Moorthy

Madurai and Mysore have been chosen for a pilot project to check carbon emission and reduce pollution levels.

V. V. Rajan Chellappa, Mayor, along with Deputy Mayor R. Gopalakrishnan, told reporters here on Tuesday that the civic body would soon launch a set of tough measures for tobacco control and strict vigil would be there to prevent smoking in public places. Read more

Source : thehindu.com

The Foldable Car: Coming to a Parking Spot Near You

More than half the world’s population lives in cities, a percent that is estimated to increase to 70% by 2050. Much of the urban growth will be in the emerging economies like China and India where a new middle-class wants Western conveniences … like cars. But there are huge costs to owning and driving cars in cities: (i) cars are gas-guzzlers that pollute the environment; (ii) they are big and bulky, adding to congestion; (iii) individual ownership again leads to more congestion and air pollution. This tension between the need and unsustainability of the automobile calls for a new approach to urban mobility.

Most environmentalists agree that the best solution is for everyone to walk and cycle more and take more public transport. But let’s be honest: most people don’t like walking home from the train station after a long day’s work. They want a form of transportation that takes them right to their front door, i.e. that covers what is known as “the last mile”. Bike and car sharing schemes offer the best solution: transportation vehicles that have numerous drop-off points around the city and can be rented to take you very close to your home. This multiple use of transportation types for one journey is known as inter-modal transport. But in the case of cars, we still have two additional problems: pollution from gasoline combustion and congestion due to bulk. Cities need a micro sharable inter-modal transport that relies on renewable energy. Read more

Source : bigthink.com

Action plan to save lakes soon: Karnataka Minister

Bengaluru : Here's something that could cheer those fighting to save the fast disappearing lakes of the city as pollution and encroachments take their toll. The government is working on an action plan to save its water bodies, according to minister for urban development,Suresh Kumar. Speaking at a Conference on ‘Bengaluru’s Water Famine by 2020’ he said the BWSSB had been asked to prepare a plan for saving Hesaraghatta lake, Yedinaholle and the western rivers.

Mr Kumar promised that provision would be made for lake development in the coming budget, and also stressed on the importance of curbing illegal water connections to conserve water . Read more

Source : deccanchronicle.com

Plastic ban fizzles out in Hyderabad city

HYDERABAD: Seven months after it was imposed, the plastic ban in Hyderabad has fizzled out completely. While production of 'cheap' plastic (below 40 micron) in city-based manufacturing units has shot, import from neighbouring states too has increased manifold. 

Even the price of plastic below 40 micron that was just about Rs 80-85 per kg prior to the ban has now touched a new high of Rs 110 per kg. Worse, erring units raided and shut by the authorities over the last few months are back in action producing reams of the forbidden stuff on a regular basis. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

MP CM plans two-year action plan for developing cities

BHOPAL : The cities of the State will be given a facelift. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has instructed to chalk out two-year action plan for developing beautiful and clean cities with ultramodern basic amenities.

He also instructed to give top priority to works for purifying Maa Narmada River at Amarkantak and Pashvani River at Chitrakoot. Read more

Source : dailypioneer.com

India grappling with air pollution

According to 2012 Environmental Performance Index, India is raked as a nation which breathes the highest level of polluted air.

The country has been ranked at 125th spot in terms of tackling pollution and natural resource management challenges which is harming environment the most. Read more

Source : presstv.com

From cancer research to energy storage, Berkeley Lab scientist takes on big challenges

The clean-energy commute of the future could come from research conducted at facilities like Berkeley Lab's Molecular Foundry, where Rizia Bardhan is helping to develop new hydrogen storage materials.

On a typical day, Rizia Bardhan walks through the doors of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory’s Molecular Foundry and immerses herself in the tricky business of tweaking optical spectroscopy equipment to study phase transitions in metal hydrides.

It’s fair to say that what she does is difficult to grasp. Why she does it is easy: “I want to help solve big problems. That’s why I’m here,” she says. Read more

Source : physorg.com

Next generation will not see animals, plants: Builder

Mysore : ‘Hassle-free system will reduce cost of building houses’

“We have destroyed what is priceless. It would be no surprise if the next generation inherits a earth sans birds, animals or plants. It is the legacy what we leave to our children. Children should become ambassadors for any movement and adopt what is right, only then can Earth be preserved,” said founder of Spectral Service Consultants Prem C Jain after releasing a technical volume of Buildtech at NIE indoor stadium here on Saturday. Read more

Source : deccanherald.com

Metrowater to get 5cr to cut CO2 emissions

CHENNAI: The Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) will soon receive 5 crore from the United Nations for reducing carbon dioxide emissions in four of its sewage treatment plants. Metrowater officials said SGS India, a consultant, had registered with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change to obtain emission reduction certificate for the plants.

Metrowater managing director K Gopal said the UN had expressed satisfaction with Metrowater's efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. "We submitted a proposal to the UN and expect to receive 5 crore in three months. Instead of letting out gases into the atmosphere, we are using them to meet our needs. So we are going to receive carbon credits for it," he said. Read more

Source : articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Finding the innovation key to million problems

From cars to vaccines, companies are busy introducing a slew of cost-effective products

India’s image in the eyes of the world undergoes a major shift in every 30 years or so. From Independence to the import of PL-480 wheat, it was one of abject poverty and utter helplessness — of a nation unable to feed itself. Read more

Source : mydigitalfc.com

Kamuni Cheruvu lake is a free for all dumping zone

“We used to consume water directly from this lake about 10 years ago. In fact, whenever people ran out of water, they used to fill a bucket from the lake and use it. Now the lake is so polluted that the water can’t be used for anything,” said Sideshwar Goud, member, Save Our Urban Lake (SOUL) who was born in the area and continues to live here. The NGO has been crying hoarse about the deteriorating condition of Kamuni Cheruvu, a lake near the Shamshabad Airport.

Kamuni Cheruvu is a 25 acre lake, that until 10 years ago, was the pride of the residents who used this lake extensively. The lake is now polluted, and what’s worse is that it has been encroached even by the Andhra Pradesh Cental Power Distri­bution Company Limited (APCPDCL) sub-station. Read more

Source : postnoon.com

Diesel cars guzzling 40% of segment's fuel: CSE

New Delhi: Trashing industry contention that diesel use by cars is very low, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) Wednesday said 40 percent of the total fuel used in the car segment in the country is diesel. 

An analysis of the car industry by the CSE found that in 2011-12, diesel cars will account for over 40 percent of the total car sales in the country. Read more

Source : zeenews.india.com

'Water contamination is a major issue in Nashik'

NASHIK: Residents of the Hanumanwadi area (ward no. 7) in the Panchavati division of the city have complained of getting contaminated water and have demanded that the old pipeline supplying water to the locality be replaced.

The area, one of the major wards in the Panchavati division, includes the Hanumanwadi, Kranti Nagar and Ramwadi localities. The population of the predominantly middle-class ward is around 19,000. The sitting corporators in the ward are Sanjay Navle (Shiv Sena) and Ashok Mutardak, who just quit the Shiv Sena and joined the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). Read more

Source : articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Drive to manage waste from automobile service stations in Bangalore

Bangalore : Besides tackling air and noise pollution caused by motor vehicles, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) is planning to control hazardous waste disposed from automobile service stations.This was revealed at a workshop on ‘Hazardous waste management generated by automobile service stations’, in Parisara Bhavan on Monday.

Addressing the participants, board chairman AS Sadashivaiah said that to assess the situation and to formulate storm water, effluent and solid waste management and noise and emission standards at bus depots, workshops and service stations, a project is being undertaken by the board and the German firm Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) . Read more

Source : dnaindia.com

Clean water in India, 24/7? Not a pipe dream anymore

Small town in Maharashtra shows how India can provide its people with safe water -- around the clock.

Residents of an Indian slum collect water from a hand pump.(INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP/Getty Images)

Clean water, 24 hours a day and seven days a week, sounds like a pipe dream in New Delhi. But an inspiring new development in small town Maharashtra has proved it can happen, according to the Indian Express.

It's a huge problem, according to Water.org, which says: "Most water sources are contaminated by sewage and agricultural runoff. India has made progress in the supply of safe water to its people, but gross disparity in coverage exists across the country. Although access to drinking water has improved, the World Bank estimates that 21% of communicable diseases in India are related to unsafe water. In India, diarrhea alone causes more than 1,600 deaths daily." Read more

Source : globalpost.com

Asia to contribute more than half in gas emissions

Islamabad—The Asian Development Bank (ADB) revelled that Asian cities were likely to contribute more than half the rise in greenhouse gas emissions over the next 20 years. 

According to The Asian Development Bank data most Asian cities do not have effective wastewater treatment systems - only 10 per cent ofwastewater is treated in the Philippines while in Indonesia it is 14 per cent Viet Nam 4 and India 9 per cent. Read more

Source : pakobserver.net

Republic Day: A tale for many cities

In just eight years, 2020 will be upon us. By then, our cities will be either areas of more chaos or meaningfully planned. The choice is ours. We are at a crucial junction as far as urbanism goes. The need to work vigorously on our cities and improve them is urgent and critical. Their populations have surged tremendously in the last few decades . Delhi's population increased from 12.8 m in 2001 to 16.3 m in 2011. Bangalore grew from 5.7 m to 8.5 m during the same period.

Our urban planners have perhaps not understood the nature of the modern city, what it takes not just to run them but to make them livable. The two key requirements of a city are: provision of basic services and social infrastructure. These need to be developed together. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Lake-lustre affair at Yellamma Cheruvu

When you visit a lake, you’d expect to see clean water and scenic beauty. How­ever, your expectations will be shattered as soon as you visit Yellamma Cheruvu in Kukatpally.

According to a report by the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) dated July 20, 2010, the lake contains contaminated water. This is the reality of Yellam­ma Cheruvu that is shrinking due to encroachment and extreme water pollution. Read more

Source : postnoon.com

Panchkula slaughterhouse to start soon

Panchkula : The long awaited slaughterhouse in Panchkula is likely to see the light of the day. The Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA), which constructed the slaughterhouse in Industrial Area, Phase I, will hand over the possession to Municipal Corporation (MC), Panchkula shortly. The MC has to, however, get an environmental clearance before making it operational.

“Prior to making the slaughterhouse operational, the MC has to get clearance from the Pollution Control Board (PCB),” said the Executive Engineer of HUDA, Preet Mohan. “We had constructed the building for the slaughterhouse a few years ago, but due to a legal case, we could not handover its possession.” Read more

Source : indianexpress.com

Republic of contradictions

"Over half of the world’s most polluted cities are in India. Because of the poor quality of air, 18,000 premature deaths occur each year in its metropolises."

Sixty three years ago, Dr B.R. Ambedkar spoke of the “life of contradictions” into which the Indian Republic would enter on January 26, 1950. He underlined the need for eliminating, at the earliest, the contradictions in the social and economic sphere lest they should imperil our political freedom and democracy. Were he to come alive today, he would be appalled to see the extent to which the contradictions have deepened and, that too during the period when the Republic saw one of the fastest growing economies in the world.

A report by the Naadi Foundation on Hunger and Malnutrition, which was released by the Prime Minister on January 11, 2012, has brought out that “59 per cent of the Indian children, between the age group of 0-5 years, have stunted growth, 42 per cent are underweight and 11 per cent suffer from wasting disease”. Every year, 13 lakh children die before reaching their first birthday, and about 55,000 women lose their life consequent upon birth-related complications. Read more

Source : asianage.com

Civic meet to focus on cutting carbon footprint

CHENNAI: Madurai is set to follow New Delhi and take steps to ensure that the city's carbon footprint remains small.

The temple city has been selected with Mysore to develop low-carbon urban solutions as part of a pilot project funded by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Prosperity Fund. The Low-Carbon Cities Programme will develop low-carbon models to reduce carbon emissions and check pollution. Read more

Source : waste-management-world.com

Bengaluru Metro System Adopts NXP's MIFARE Technology

NXP Semiconductors N.V (NASDAQ: NXPI) today announced that its MIFARE DESFire™ platform has been selected to manage the Automated Fare Collection (AFC) of the newly opened metro in the Indian city of Bengaluru, formally known as Bangalore. The Namma Metro is the third metro to be opened in India after the Kolkata and the Delhi Metros. The aim of the project is to significantly reduce journey time for the city's residents and visitors, relieve congestion on roads and in the bus network, and reduce the associated levels of pollution.

The first reach of the metro opened in October 2011, and further sections are currently under construction. Once complete, the metro will comprise 41 stations and will be able to carry over one million passengers a day. Following the success of the Delhi Metro -- the first metro worldwide to receive a UN award for reducing congestion and carbon emissions -- Namma Metro will be a fully contactless system, offering a number of flexible fare structures including trip tickets and stored value tickets and day tickets. Read more

Source : world.einnews.com

Ramesh calls govt stand on sanitation ‘half-hearted’

New Delhi : Union minister for rural development Jairam Ramesh has called the government's approach to sanitation as half hearted and budget allocations a mere token.

In a strongly worded letter to planning commission deputy chief Montek Singh Ahluwalia, the minister, who is also incharge of drinking water and sanitation, questioned the panel's 'insufficient fund recommendations' vis a vis the pitiable status in the country. Read more

Source : hindustantimes.com

“Waste-to-energy units are flops''

Chennai Corporation must adopt a decentralised approach to manage the solid waste generated in the city instead of setting up facilities to produce power from waste in Kodungaiyur and Perungudi, environmentalists said here on Friday.

Residents of Kodungaiyur and environmental activists interact after a press briefing in Chennai on Friday. Photo: B. Jothi Ramalingam

Addressing presspersons, environmentalist Nityanand Jayaraman said such centralised composting projects in other cities, including Hyderabad and Delhi, have failed. The civic body must cancel the resolution adopted at its council meeting two months ago as the technology has not been successful in other cities. Read more

Source : thehindu.com

Jaipur may soon get a bicycle track

JAIPUR: The city may soon get a dedicated bicycle track to promote cycling. In a bid to reduce road congestion, accidents and pollution, the Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) is looking at possibilities to implement the public bicycle sharing (PBS) scheme on the lines of Barcelona's 'Bicing' and London's 'Boris Bikes'.

The JDA project director, N C Mathur said, "We have received a proposal from Embarq, the Centre for Sustainable Transport India to explore the possibility of public bicycle programme. It is mentioned in the proposal that 7 per cent of the trips in Jaipur are on bicycles, this needs to be further strengthened as bicycle is pollution-free and also provides health benefits." Mathur added that the bicycle sharing scheme will be implemented under Public Private Partnership (PPP). Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com